Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki described a deal for the overhaul of T-72 tanks at a Polish plant in Gliwice, southern Poland, on Monday as “a milestone leading to the rebuilding of the Polish army potential.”

The PM, together with Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, visited the Bumar Łabędy plant to attend the signing of the contract.

Addressing the plant’s workforce, the PM said he was very glad the deal was signed “since it was an opportunity to develop skills and keep over 1,000 job positions in Gliwice, as well as in companies cooperating with Bumar Łabędy.”

Minister Błaszczak said he hoped that Polish plants would soon be able to produce a new generation tank.

The defence minister added that the plan of technical modernisation of the Polish army, worth PLN 185 billion (EUR 43.55 billion), comprised of both purchases and modernisation.

“We have been modernising and modifying the equipment owned by the Polish army. This also concerns T-72 tanks,” he said, adding that their overhaul will equip soldiers with state-of-the-art goggles, as well as navigation and observation instruments.

The T-72 is a family of Soviet main battle tanks that first entered production in 1971.